A Hamilton Township man was sentenced this morning to 18 years in prison in connection with the 2014 killing of the woman with whom he lived, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.
Joseph Morrison, 64, of the 6000 block of Sears Ave., Mays Landing, was sentenced by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Michael J. Blee today to 18 years of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison, for the shooting death in November 2014 of Debra J. Mason, 52, of the same address.
At 9:55 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, Hamilton Township Police, Hamilton Township Rescue, and AtlantiCare paramedics responded to the Sears Avenue home in response to a 9-1-1 call. Upon arrival, Mason was found with a gunshot wound to the chest. Mason was pronounced dead at the scene
Morrison was present at the home when emergency responders arrived.
An investigation by detectives of the Hamilton Township Police Department and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit resulted in the arrest of Morrison the following morning, charged with murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Morrison was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $1,000,000 full cash bail set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Mark H. Sandson.
An autopsy performed on November 27, 2014 by State Medical Examiner—Southern Regional Office, Dr. Gerald Feigin, determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest, and the manner of death: homicide.